Make It Good

I’m writing to you from a much-needed getaway with Ryan. His dad is home with the dogs, my parents have the kids, and we’re incredibly grateful for a little time away together after the hellacious two months we’ve had. I still feel like I’m walking through a nightmare while the rest of the world spins by without me, but I’m trying to be present for moments like this, and for the time we recently had away with the kids in the mountains.

Hi friends. I’m easing my way back in here with a simple, fresh summer salad I made for our family and Ryan’s dad the other night. I had Ry grill some chicken with a spritz of avocado oil and a generous sprinkle of my Adobo seasoning, then roasted some Yukon Gold potatoes with my FRIES seasoning. I had some zucchini, yellow squash and a portable to use up as well, so I sautéed it all in a bit of avocado oil, with cumin, coriander, salt and a squeeze of lemon.

July 10, 2026 When our daughter Aila died twelve years ago, Ryan and I had been together for over a decade. We had already weathered hard things. My ulcerative colitis diagnosis had changed the trajectory of the life and marriage we thought we’d have. We’d lost twins early in pregnancy before Asher was born. We knew disappointment and suffering. But nothing prepared us for burying our daughter. At the time, we knew almost nothing about the Enneagram.

Hi everyone! My name is Aran Goyoaga and I am a gluten-free cookbook author and photographer. I am excited to fill in for Danielle today and share this recipe for Gluten and Nut-Free Plum and Tigernut Crumble (that can easily be made grain-free). Before I jump into the recipe, I wanted to tell you a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in the Basque Country, in northern Spain, where good food isn’t just something you eat—it’s how you gather, celebrate, and care for the people you love.

Hi, everyone! My name is Caroline Chambers, but most people call me Caro. I’m writing to you from my home in Carmel Valley, California, and am excited to be filling in for my dear friend Danielle this week. I write a newsletter called What To Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking and it’s for busy people who like great food. Every week I share a new complete-meal dinner recipe that dirties minimal dishes, (almost always!) takes under an hour, and tastes amazing.

June 24, 2026 I don’t have many words yet. My heart is still in shock, trying to find its footing after losing yet another person I love so deeply. But today is Aila’s twelfth birthday, and if there’s one thing grief has always taught me, it’s that when I can’t carry it anymore, I write. Every year on June 24th, I hike alone. It’s a tradition that began long before Aila was born.

Hello new friends! I’m Rachel. The recipe creator behind rachLmansfield, mom of 3, co-CEO and founder of cadootz and cookbook author of More, Please!I’m here taking over Danielle’s newsletter for the day and I am so excited to share an incredible dinner idea I know you are going to love.

Hello new friends. I’m Beth Bollinger, a certified holistic nutritionist, integrative health practitioner, recipe developer, and the voice behind Nest Wellness here on Substack and on Instagram, where I share CGM-tested, low glycemic recipes alongside practical tips on blood sugar balance, metabolic health, and healthy aging. I am so honored to be taking over Make It Good this week, filling in for the wonderful Danielle Walker, whose recipes, by the way, are a genuine part of my own story.

Hello, new friends! Jenn Lueke here, taking over Make It Good this week to share an incredibly simple, incredibly delicious dinner I think you’re going to love. If it’s our first time meeting, I write the eat goood newsletter here on Substack, I’m the creator behind @jenneatsgoood on Instagram, and my cookbook Don’t Think About Dinner came out in January of this year.

To my dear community. Before we get to today’s recipe, I wanted to share a brief personal note. Our family experienced a sudden and devastating loss on Wednesday, and we are currently with loved ones as we navigate the shock and heartbreak of it all. Please know that Ryan, the kids, and I are all physically healthy and safe. We are deeply grieving, and right now it feels difficult to see beyond the next hour, let alone the next few weeks. This loss feels insurmountable at the moment.